The Mt Pleasant resident, who was 13 at the time, pulled a woman from a rip after she struggled to stay afloat while swimming from Southshore to Sumner.
Miss Suter was with her father Trevor when she swam out into a rip by Shag Rock on Sumner beach with a surf rescue tube and fins.
“It was an outgoing tide so the rip was taking her out to sea towards the Sumner sandbar,” she said.
“It is a very dangerous spot that often looks wrongly calm and safe to members of the public.”
The rescue took about 5min, and Miss Suter said the woman was fine once she was returned to the beach.
Now the 25-year-old has been recognised for helping other young lifeguards undertake their first rescues. She was named instructor of the year at the Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence.
Miss Suter said she was humbled to receive the award at Te Papa in Wellington.
“There are a lot of volunteers in this organisation that put so much time and energy into it to make it what it is. I wouldn’t be able to do the instructing that I do without their support and help,” she said.
Miss Suter is the head instructor and club captain in Sumner, where she organises and runs courses on lifeguarding, rock rescues and inflatable boat driving.
She also leads the Canterbury lifeguard exams and has instructed at the Surf Life Saving New Zealand National Lifeguard School.
“For me, surf lifesaving, it is a way to not only give back to the community and keep Kiwis safe on our coastlines, but I also enjoy being able to help develop future lifeguards and leaders in our community,” Miss Suter said.
“It is awesome and very rewarding to see them develop and step up to instruct and lead our patrols to keep our beaches safe. Surf lifesaving has given me a lot of opportunities and friends for life that I am very thankful for.”
Awards were also presented to New Zealand’s top surf lifeguard, lifesaving volunteer and the lifeguards responsible for the rescue of the year.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand senior executive Matt Warren said the awards celebrated the “heroism, commitment and skills of people throughout the country who dedicate their time and effort to volunteering, and keeping Kiwis safe on our beaches.”
There are 74 surf lifesaving clubs throughout New Zealand – and all are run by volunteers.
“Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s volunteers have had another huge year,” Mr Warren said.
“The skill level of our people was on show again this season with great rescues, sporting feats and administrative excellence.”
